Annual Report of the Disabled and Aged Regional Transit System : Darts 1986

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Disabled and Aged Regional Transit System

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Our tenth anniversary year brought further expansion of service, thanks largely to the insight and
commitment of Regional Council.

More specifically, in 1986 D.A.R.T.S. provided 223,000 trips compared with 193,000 trips the
previous year. We were able to eliminate the waiting list of those wishing to register as D.A.R.T.S.
passengers which by early last year had reached a very disturbing level of 300 names. The stand-by list
was also eliminated, to free 4200 registered passengers from uncertainty and anxiety.

I feel very gratified that those and other improvements were made possible by a very impressive in-
crease in funding, by the Regional Government. That decision is a tribute to members of the Transporta-
tion and Finance Committee as well as Regional Council as a whole and Chairman Bill Sears, Mayor
Bob Wade and Counciller Geraldine Copps, especially since it went so far beyond the 4% budget
guidelines for 1986 budget increases.

Our Regional Government also expressed its commitment to effective transportation for elderly and
disabled citizens by initiating an in-depth study of our present service and future needs. All of us at
D.A.R.T.S. welcomed the opportunity to participate in the study as further contribution to the continuing
improvement of our service. The positive results confirmed that our efforts in the past have been
successful.

For the same reason we look forward to the D.A.R.T.S. Public Information Evening that will be
hosted in a few weeks by Regional Government. As always we welcome ideas from passengers, Agencies
and the general public. Although it can be disappointing to hear complaints, we even welcome criticisms
which can help us identify and solve problems.

I know I speak for all directors in saying that there is only one reason we serve the Board of
D.A.R.T.S: to do everything we can to help Regional Government fully meet the transportation needs of
our elderly and disabled passengers.

While there has been significant progress over the years, we are well aware that further improvements
are needed.

The rapid growth, in demand, presents the greatest challenge to D.A.R.T.S. management and staff
as well as our funding sources. But it’s a challenge that all of us in Hamilton-Wentworth welcome, as it
shows how many more disabled persons are now fully sharing in the life of our community.

That growth is also a reminder that transportation is the key to the goals of independence and
equality expressed during the year of disabled persons 1981.

On a more personal note as I complete my term as President, I would like to express sincere ap-
preciation to other directors, to Brian Pinto our Executive Director and other members of the office staff

and especially to our drivers.

Above all I want to thank our passengers for the comments, suggestions and co-operation which are
so important to the continuing improvement of D.A.R.T.S.

Hi, NSO

Norman Corfe, President. See ay ae

STATISTICAL SUMMARY

Passenger trips booked
Cancellations & No-shows
Total passenger trips taken
Increase over previous year
Operating vehicles
Kilometers travelled
Average kilometers per trip
Average cost per kilometer
Average cost per trip (DARTS)
Average cost per trip (Taxi)
Overall Average

PASSENGER TRIPS (000’s)

1978 1979

1986

Zoo ,On2
29,869
223,003
L776
PE)
939,603
8.80
$1.72
SIS.15
$4.25
veel

“| PASSENGERS
“| CARRIED

1980 1981 1982 1983

1985

219,495
LZ o7
192,786
21.%
21
765,891
1S
S172
S1GES2
$4.25
$8.91

1984 1985 1986

Disabled and Aged Regional Transit System

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS BALANCE SHEET

as at December 31, 1986 (with comparative figures for 1985)

ASSETS 1986 1985
CURRENT
Bank $ 36,629 (5 81,860
Accounts receivable Aa) 48,108
Prepaid expenses 16,164 16,242
Due from Regional Municipality of
Hamilton-Wentworth 19,221 —
146,141 146,210
TRUST FUND AND RESERVE
Cash 100 100
Due from Regional Municipality of
Hamilton-Wentworth 4,009 36,741
4,109 36,841
FIXED (note 1)
Purchased vehicles Ot is, 708,934
Donated vehicles 65,242 32,450
Office and computer equipment 40,526 31,409
1,016,925 P2293
Less accumulated depreciation ( 826,592) ( 624,283)
190,333 148,510
$ 340583 u us 331,561
LIABILITIES 1986 1985
CURRENT
Accounts payable - trade $ 146,431 §$ 49,930
Due to Regional Municipality of
Hamilton-Wentworth — 96,280
146,141 146,210
TRUST FUND AND RESERVE
Reserve for capital purposes ( 10,900) 27,574
(unfinanced capital expenditures)
Margaret Maxwell Memorial Trust Fund 15,009 9,267
4,109 36,841
EQUITY IN FIXED ASSETS 190,333 148,510
$ 340,583 §$ 331,561
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN Bonde mel
TRUST AND RESERVE Memorial Capital
For the Year Ended December 31, 1986 Fund Purposes
BALANCES - BEGINNING OF YEAR $ 9,267 $ 27,574
REVENUES
Donations and memberships 42,309 32/92
Interest income 2,150 _
Provided from current operations -
In lieu of depreciation — 116,726
MTC subsidy on capital purchases — 185,576
33726 362,668
EXPENDITURES
Special charters Beles) ae
Capital purchases 523192 373,568
$15,009 $__(_ 10,900

Disabled and Aged Regional Transit System
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

For the year ended December 31, 1986 (with comparative figures for 1985)

REVENUES

Passenger fares - agencies
- passengers
- charters

Other

EXPENDITURES
Wages and salaries
Employee benefits
Gas and oil
Repairs and maintenance
Office maintenance
Rent
Licences and permits
Insurance
Telephone
Printing and stationery
Postage
Miscellaneous
Purchase of services
Computer service, audit and legal fees
Office equipment
Communication radio
Travelling
Uniforms

PROVISION FOR RESERVE FOR CAPITAL PURPOSES
EXCESS OF EXPENDITURES OVER REVENUES

GRANTS
Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth
Ministry of Transportation and Communcations

EXCESS OF REVENUES OVER
EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR

Approved on behalf of the Board

Norman Corfe, President DIRECTORS

Paul McLenachan, Treasurer

$

1986

244,038
159,49]

27,781

431,310
9,900

441,210

923,906
134,232
106,378
139,844
15,549
12,696
4,44]
60,057
11,169
18,583
5,220
5.277
502,546
25,125
3,299
8,946
1,391
2,736

JESS eo)

1,550,185)

116,726)

1,666,911)

509,423

1,157,488
1,666,911

1985

216,957
116,548

31,663

364,748

14,509
AID 257

763,258
114,255
88,279
104,014
16,345
i525
3,421
49 088
2
19135
6,158
12,411
397,691
18,550
32993
S37
841
Se)

1,632,168

bs25250 lh)

85,140)

1,338,051)

418,797
919,254

P300,051

Disabled and Aged Regional Transit System

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended December 31, 1986

1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a) Revenue and Expenditures —

The accrual method has been used to reflect revenues and expenditures.

(b) Fixed Assets —

Purchased vehicles, office and computer equipment are recorded at historical cost.
Subsidies received toward the purchase of these assets are credited to

accumulated depreciation.

Donated vehicles are stated at their estimated retail value at the

date of acquisition.

(c) Depreciation and Reserve for Capital Purposes —

A provision is charged to the revenues for the reserve for
capital purposes. The provision is equivalent to a charge
for depreciation calculated on the straight-line basis at
the rate of 25% per annum of the historical cost of the
assets. For computer equipment, 100% depreciation is
charged in the year of purchase. For those assets for
which a subsidy has been received, depreciation is
calculated at the rate of 25% per annum of the historical

cost less the related subsidy.

AUDITORS’ REPORT

To the Board of Directors of
Disabled and Aged Regional
Transit System.

We have examined the balance sheet of the
Disabled and Aged Regional Transit System as at
December 31, 1986, and the statements of opera-
tions and changes in trust and special reserves for
the year then ended. Our examination was made in
accordance with generally accepted auditing stan-
dards and accordingly included such tests and
other procedures as we considered necessary in the
circumstances.

In our opinion, these financial statements pre-
sent fairly the financial position of the organization
as at December 31, 1986 and the results of its opera-
tions for the year then ended in accordance with
accounting principles set out in the notes to the
financial statements applied a basis consistent with
that of the preceding year.

February 12, 1987

fll fe Yc

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

1986 was one of the most eventful years in our eleven year history.

Before commenting on current activities, it may be useful to briefly review the progress we’ve achieved
together during our first decade.

While statistics tell only a part of the story, I think they paint an encouraging picture.

We have grown from approximately 400 passengers (35,000 trips) in 1976 to our present registration of
4200 passengers (250,000 trips), all in the span of ten years.

At the same time service hours have been gradually extended as additional funds became available. What
began as a service on week days only was extended to weekday evenings and then to weekends as well.

Last year we introduced a Rotary sponsored excursion to Toronto in co-operation with that city’s Wheel
Trans system.

Over the ten-year period, the number of D.A.R.T.S. drivers has increased from 4 in 1976 to 38 in 1987
and D.A.R.T.S. fleet has grown from 3 vehicles to 29. In addition we make use of livery cars for ambulatory
passengers. This has made it possible to serve many more passengers and provide many more trips within
the operating budget.

The growth of D.A.R.T-.S. has been matched by constant efforts to continue improving the quality of
service. The challenge is to prevent errors and misunderstandings in a very complex service that schedules
250,000 personalized door-to-door trips in a year. Our computerized booking service certainly helps. We have
continued to expand our telephone system in the effort to eliminate delays. In 1986 we introduced a new Remote
Reservation System which enables passengers with a personal computer to tie directly with the D.A.R.T.S.
computer. While this system is still in its infancy, we feel it’s the way of the future, as home computers become
more common.

Despite all our efforts to make the service as perfect as possible, some slip-ups still occur. If passengers
have a problem, we certainly want to know about it, so we can find out how it happened and then to do
everything we can to prevent it from happening again. So we hope no passenger ever feels reluctant to tell
us about a problem. It can be difficult to solve them if we hear about them indirectly. In 1986, we further
improved our complaint procedures to help us identify and solve problems.

While the D.A.R.T.S. system has become a long way over the years, there is undoubtedly room for further
progress and we’re working hard to achieve it. The study conducted last year by Regional Government as well
as the Public Information Evening this June should provide ideas and input to guide our future development.
All the staff and Board are very pleased with the positive results of the study.

Of course we will continue to hold passenger meetings to give everyone the opportunity to fully express
their ideas and concerns. They know best what’s right and wrong about D.A.R.T.S. So we value their frank
opinions.

As we look back over the past years there are many people to thank. Our growth is in large measure a
tribute to the continuing commitment of members of Regional Council. Many caring people have freely given
their time and talents as Directors. In particular I would like to express my sincere thanks to Norman Corfe
our President for the significant time he has spent, his advice and dedication to D.A.R.T.S. A special thank
you to Ray Collins and Judge Morris Perozak for their years of service on the Board. Also to Kay Claremont,
Marjorie Fletcher, Rose Hawthorne and Ellena Raffan who faithfully volunteer their help in our office. We
are grateful to the many Community Agencies who serve the elderly and disabled who have been very helpful.

Our drivers deserve a very special thanks for their care and concern as do the dedicated and hard-working
members of our office staff.

Most of all, I would like to thank our passengers for the positive comments they so often express as well
as for the suggestions that have helped D.A.R.T.S. continue to grow and improve.

Their continuing support will help D.A.R.T.S. open doors throughout the Community for even more
elderly and disabled people.

on) ve
Lpv in a
Brian Pinto
Executive Director

3 2022 213338292

SERVING YOU FOR 1986-87

D.A.R.T.S? BOARD OF DIRECTORS

** Norman Corfe — President

** Leo Laviolette — Past President

** Harrison Arrell — Vice President

** Paul McLenachan — Treasurer
Harry Buckle Eric McGhie
Ivan Cairns Morris Perozak
Ray Collins Andy Phillips
Geraldine Copps Ross Robinson
Marilyn Davis Derek Watters
Peter Hampson Chester Waxman

Brian Pinto — Executive Director / Secretary

Finance and Administration

Paul McLenachan - Chairman
Harrison Arrell

Harry Buckle

Ivan Cairns

Geraldine Copps

Peter Hampson

Eric McGhie

Chester Waxman

Personnel

Harrison Arrell - Chairman
Ray Collins

Leo Laviolette

Chester Waxman

Nominating

Leo Laviolette - Chairman
Harrison Arrell
Norman Corfe

Acknowledgements to:

Capital Bus Sales, (Ottawa)
Coca-Cola Ltd.

Girl Guides of Canada

Marilyn Davis, St. Joseph’s Hospital
Mountain Mobile Maintenance Ltd.

Rotary Club of Hamilton East Wentworth

Bob Stirling, Stirling Print-All
Thames Beverages Ltd.

Community Relations

Ross Robinson - Chairman
Geraldine Copps
Marilyn Davis

Ernest Feher

Sister Martina

Morris Perozak

Andy Phillips

Derek Watters

Service and Operations

Peter Hampson - Chairman
Harrison Arrell
Harry Buckle
Ivan Cairns

Ray Collins
Marilyn Davis
Eric McGhie
Morris Perozak
Andy Phillips
Ross Robinson
Derek Watters
Chester Waxman

Tim Horton Donuts, Ryta Cruse
Jenc Transit Inc.

Hillcrest Restaurants

Creative Candies

Nadine Barbara (Dancer)

Turf & Surf Singers — Mike Byrne
Tony Forsythe, Kevin Ryan

Main Hess Coralaires

And to all those who have generously donated.